Children's hand surgery

About

Our children’s hand surgery service at St Mary’s Hospital provides a multidisciplinary team approach for children with hand problems and their families.

Using both surgical and non-surgical interventions, the team treat a range of conditions, including extra fingers or thumbs (polydactyly), fused fingers (syndactyly) or missing digits. Foot congenital problems can also be managed along the same lines.

All treatment options from splinting to surgery are considered, we treat each case uniquely and involve families and the child in each step of the process.

Our aim is to help guide families through the entire treatment process, providing support and expert help to ensure our patients can achieve their full potential.

Our team is made up of internationally trained surgeons, therapists and paediatricians to manage all aspects of a child with hand differences.

Further online resources

• British Society for surgery of the hand
• British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons
  
  

Clinics

Our children's hand surgery service holds clinics at St Mary's Hospital.

Children's hand surgery clinic

Address

Fracture clinic
Salton House
St Mary’s Hospital
Praed Street
London W2 1NY

Please note: The entrance to the fracture clinic can be accessed via South Wharf Road. 

Hours

Monday mornings 

Contact information

Phone: 020 3312 2369
Email: shehan.hettiaratchy@nhs.net

Meet the team

Our children's hand surgery service is managed by a team of consultants and specialists.

Consultant plastic surgeons

Mr Shehan Hettiaratchy, special interests: children’s hand surgery and extremity reconstruction
Mr Abhilash Jain, special interests: children’s hand surgery and extremity reconstruction
Mr Arvind Mohan

Paediatric consultant

Dr Simon Nadel

Acute paediatric occupational therapy manager

Beverley Hicks

Paediatric occupational therapy manager

Lynley Read

Senior hand therapist

Joelle Chalmers

Patient information

Find out what to expect when you come to hospital for your child's hand surgery appointment.

Before your appointment

We will usually see patients within four weeks of referral.

There are no restrictions as to who can attend the appointment with the child but we prefer at least one parent/caregiver to attend.

It would be helpful if you bring one of your child’s favourite toys to the appointment, so they have something to play with while they are at the hospital.

Please also remember to bring your child’s ‘red book’ and to check your appointment letter for anything specific you have been asked to take with you. In addition, it would be helpful if you could bring the following:

• your full address and telephone number(s)
• your appointment card and appointment letter
• your GP’s name and address
• a list of questions you may want to ask your consultant

During your appointment

The children’s hand clinic is held on Monday mornings at St Mary’s Hospital in the fracture and orthopaedic clinic in Salton House. Please use the clinic’s main entrance on South Wharf Road.

Please note that we are a teaching hospital, so medical students may be present for some appointments. If you do not wish to have them in the room please let the nurse or doctor know and the students will be asked to step outside.

You and your child will be seen by our children’s hand team, consisting of doctors, nurses and hand therapists.

We may need to perform some x-rays or other imaging such as ultrasound scans. We will then make a diagnosis and advise you of our recommendations for treatment. We will keep you fully informed and you will have every opportunity to ask questions.

Referrals

Find out how to refer patients to our children's hand surgery service.

GP

Please use NHS e-Referrals to refer a patient to our children's hand surgery service.

Any emergencies should be referred to the on-call plastic surgery specialist registrar who can be reached via switchboard at St Mary’s Hospital on 020 3312 6666, or Charing Cross Hospital switchboard on 020 3311 1234.

Secondary care

Please email: shehan.hettiaratchy@nhs.net

Self-referrals

Please email: shehan.hettiaratchy@nhs.net